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Illegal entry
'I just wanted a better future,' says woman who left Mexico for a new life in the U.S.


BY ANDREW MACKIE
Record Staff Writer
Sunday, June 4, 2006


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EDITOR'S NOTE: Maria is a fictitious name used to protect the Conover resident’s identity.

HICKORY -- Maria lives in this country illegally.

The Conover resident came here six years ago to provide for her young daughter.

Maria, 26, says she understands why people would expect illegal immigrants to be lawbreakers, since they broke the law to come here.

“People have the right to feel that way because this is their country. It probably feels like someone is forcing their way into their house,” she said.

“I would ask for understanding that the only reason I came was to meet the needs of my daughter. And for people to put themselves in my shoes, when you have a daughter ... say they are hungry and you are unable to provide food.”

Maria lived in a one-room, 4-by-4 meter house in Valle del Chalco, Mexico, about six hours from Mexico City. In 2000, she decided to attempt the dangerous trek to the United States.

After a three-day bus ride to Piedras Negras, a small town near Tijuana, she crossed the border with her then 2-year-old daughter. They walked four days through desert in California and Arizona.

She and about 30 other Latinos in her group, many of whom were from countries other than Mexico, were assaulted along the way.

They were robbed of their money. The women were made to undress and were touched in inappropriate ways, she said.

Immigration officials caught them. They were returned to Mexico.

Frustrated, Maria called her sister, who was already living in Hickory, to tell her she didn’t feel comfortable making another attempt to get into the United States.

In debt for the bus ride to Piedras Negras, Maria then changed her mind.

Her second try involved a two-day walk with a group from Sonora, Mexico, into Arizona.

Someone she didn’t know picked them up at a house in Arizona and drove them to Denver.

From there, Maria took buses to Hickory.

Maria considers herself fortunate because many people leave families behind when coming to America.

“There are many towns in Mexico comprised of only women and children because the men have come here to work,” she said.

And, many people die in attempts to cross the border.

Maria now lives in a three-bedroom, two-bathroom mobile home.

Her daughter has her own room, and Maria can afford to buy her clothes, food and shoes.

She has held several jobs since coming to the area. She originally worked in a food plant, but was not allowed to return to work after the birth of her second child.

She babysat for a mother and has worked at a Spanish-language grocery store.

Maria says she likes many things about the United States.

She is pleased children are taught to respect laws.

“Even though I am proud to be Mexican and to come from Mexico, I love this country more because this country was able to provide me things my country was not able to provide me with,” she said.

Maria did not pay taxes the first couple of years here. She didn’t know how.

She wants to be law abiding, to set an example for her children.

Maria is taking English classes now and hopes to improve her life.

“I feel that despite difficulties now, I am pleased for the things I have been able to achieve since I’ve been here,” she said.

Maria says she feels accepted when people greet her with a nice “Hola.”

Maria hopes her children are able to attend college. That will be easier for her son, who was born here and is a legal citizen, than for her 8-year-old daughter.

“I just want to say thank you to this country and in someway ask for forgiveness to those offended by the way I came to this country illegally,” she said. “I just wanted a better future.”

amackie@hickoryrecord.com | 322-4510 x5407 or 304-6914